BMW Z4 Sdrive20i M MOT Pass Rate
Overall pass rate across all manufacture years, based on 1,906 real MOT test results. Failure rate: 14.8%.
Data from official DVSA MOT testing records
BMW Z4 Sdrive20i M MOT Reliability Overview
The BMW Z4 Sdrive20i M is a niche vehicle in the UK, with 1,906 MOT test results recorded in our database spanning 2 manufacture years. It has an overall MOT pass rate of 85.2% and a failure rate of 14.8%, which is well above the UK average of approximately 37%.
Based on this data, the BMW Z4 Sdrive20i M earns a "Excellent" reliability rating. The average BMW Z4 Sdrive20i M presents for MOT with approximately 26,292 miles on the clock. Manufacture year matters: 2013 models achieve the highest pass rate at 86.5%, while 2012 models have the lowest at 84.4%. This 2.1 percentage point difference suggests notable variation in build quality or component durability across production years.
The most common MOT failure for the BMW Z4 Sdrive20i M is Tyres, affecting 13.1% of all tests. Tyre failures include tread depth below the legal minimum of 1.6mm, cuts, bulges, exposed cords, and incorrect tyre pressure. Tyres are one of the most common and easiest-to-prevent MOT failures. The second most common issue is Brakes at 4.7%. Road Wheels rounds out the top three at 4.4%. Together, these top 3 failure categories account for a significant portion of all MOT failures for this model.
Top failures across all manufacture years combined. Individual year pages may show different top failures.
What Fails Most
Best Year to Buy
📈 How Each Vintage Ages
Pass Rate by Manufacture Year
* High Fail Rate badge indicates an MOT pass rate below 65% (failure rate above 35%).
What Fails on This Car?
Click a category to see specific failure items.
View as table
| Rank | Failure Category | Rate (%) | Count |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 13.1% | 249 |
| 2 | Brakes | 4.7% | 90 |
| 3 | Road Wheels | 4.4% | 83 |
| 4 | Lamps, Reflectors And Electrical Equipment | 3.9% | 74 |
| 5 | Driver's View Of The Road | 2.0% | 39 |
| 6 | Registration Plates And Vin | 1.3% | 25 |
| 7 | Non-component Advisories | 0.5% | 10 |
| 8 | Suspension | 0.4% | 8 |
| 9 | Exhaust, Fuel And Emissions | 0.2% | 4 |
| 10 | Seat Belts And Supplementary Restraint Systems | 0.2% | 3 |
| 11 | Steering | 0.1% | 2 |
Failures per 10,000 Miles
avg. 26,292 miFor every 10,000 miles driven, this shows what percentage of MOT tests fail for each category. This accounts for how far cars are actually driven, not just raw pass/fail counts.
View as table
| Category | Rate / 10K mi | Raw % | Count |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tyres | 4.97 | 13.1% | 249 |
| Brakes | 1.80 | 4.7% | 90 |
| Wheels | 1.66 | 4.4% | 83 |
| Lamps & Electrical | 1.48 | 3.9% | 74 |
| Visibility | 0.78 | 2.0% | 39 |
| Registration Plates and VIN | 0.50 | 1.3% | 25 |
| Non-component advisories | 0.20 | 0.5% | 10 |
| Suspension | 0.16 | 0.4% | 8 |
| Emissions & Exhaust | 0.08 | 0.2% | 4 |
| Seat Belts | 0.06 | 0.2% | 3 |
| Steering | 0.04 | 0.1% | 2 |
🚗 Similar Cars to Consider
Mileage at MOT
The average BMW Z4 Sdrive20i M has 26,292 miles when tested for MOT.
📊 Mileage-Adjusted Failure Rate
How often this car fails MOT relative to how much it's driven — a fairer comparison than raw pass rate.
The BMW Z4 Sdrive20i M has a mileage-adjusted failure rate of 5.63% per 10,000 miles driven. The average across all makes is 5.38%, so this model is worse than average.
About BMW Z4 Sdrive20i M MOT Data
The BMW Z4 Sdrive20i M is a niche vehicle in the UK, with 1,906 MOT test results recorded in our database spanning 2 manufacture years. It has an overall MOT pass rate of 85.2% and a failure rate of 14.8%, which is well above the UK average of approximately 37%.
For BMW Z4 Sdrive20i M owners, these results suggest a reliable vehicle that generally passes its MOT without major issues. Focus your pre-MOT checks on tyres and brakes for the best chance of a first-time pass. Use our detailed year-by-year breakdown and failure analysis below to understand how your specific Z4 Sdrive20i M is likely to perform.
Tyres — 13.1% of failures
Tyres issues account for 13.1% of MOT failures on the BMW Z4 Sdrive20i M. Tyre failures include tread depth below the legal minimum of 1.6mm, cuts, bulges, exposed cords, and incorrect tyre pressure. Tyres are one of the most common and easiest-to-prevent MOT failures. Typical repair costs: £50–200 per tyre. Pre-MOT check: Check tread depth with a 20p coin — if the outer band is visible, the tyre is too worn. Look for bulges, cuts, or embedded objects. Ensure all tyres match the recommended size and load rating.
Brakes — 4.7% of failures
Brakes issues account for 4.7% of MOT failures on the BMW Z4 Sdrive20i M. Brake-related failures include worn brake pads, corroded brake discs, leaking brake lines, and faulty brake servos. These are safety-critical components — any brake deficiency will result in an MOT fail. Typical repair costs: £150–400. Pre-MOT check: Listen for squealing or grinding noises. Check brake pedal feel — if it feels spongy or goes to the floor, have the system inspected immediately. Look at brake pad thickness through the wheel spokes (minimum 3mm).
Road Wheels — 4.4% of failures
Road Wheels issues account for 4.4% of MOT failures on the BMW Z4 Sdrive20i M. Wheel failures include cracked or severely corroded alloy wheels, missing or loose wheel nuts, and wheels that are insecurely attached. These are safety-critical and relatively rare compared to tyre failures. Typical repair costs: £100–400 per wheel. Pre-MOT check: Visually inspect wheels for cracks, especially around the spokes and rim. Check that all wheel nuts are present and tightened. Look for signs of impact damage on alloy wheels.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the MOT pass rate for the BMW Z4 Sdrive20i M?
Based on 1,906 MOT tests in our database, the BMW Z4 Sdrive20i M has an overall pass rate of 85.2% (14.8% fail rate).
What are the most common MOT failures on a BMW Z4 Sdrive20i M?
The top 3 reasons a BMW Z4 Sdrive20i M fails its MOT are: 1. Tyres (13.1%), 2. Brakes (4.7%), 3. Road Wheels (4.4%). Check these areas before booking your MOT.
Is the BMW Z4 Sdrive20i M reliable?
With a 14.8% MOT failure rate, the Z4 Sdrive20i M is more reliable than average compared to the UK average of ~40%.
What should I check before an MOT on my BMW Z4 Sdrive20i M?
Based on failure data, focus on: Tyres (13.1%); Brakes (4.7%); Road Wheels (4.4%). These are the areas most likely to cause a fail. Also check all lights, tyres (minimum 1.6mm tread), and windscreen condition — these are quick wins that apply to all cars.
Based on DVSA anonymised MOT test data (2005–2024). Crown copyright, Open Government Licence v3.0.